Two years ago, I walked 500 miles across Spain and instantly learned how important food is when it comes to activity and wellbeing. This is why in the past two years I’ve come up with creative ways to mix and match the food options at Oberlin so as to best suit my two-year anniversary being obsessed with nutrition.
Stevenson Hall
Stevie, as is known among students, is the main dining hall on campus. With buffet style options, it has multiple counters offering vegetarian options, allergen-free meals, a burger station, a pizza and pasta station, and my favorite, a colorful salad bar. Most students go to Stevie to get a quick meal while socializing at the dining area. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s already cooked for you, making it a great option for those that don’t enjoy cooking. I, on the other hand, often go to Stevie to stock up on chickpeas and spinach. I love cooking, so I bring those salad bar ingredients to make my own concoction of food at home. When in doubt, Stevie is my go-to, because I’m most able to customize what I eat.
DeCafe
It’s my number two. DeCafe is a college-owned grocery store-like space where students can use meals to buy different grocery items. The place has lots of things – from protein bars to chips, from popcorn to local Ohio maple syrup, from ice cream to mochi, from kombucha to energy drinks, from eggs to avocados. Being an ingredient household, I tend to steer towards the black bean cans, pomegranate seeds, berries, eggs, and milk, although I wouldn’t hesitate to say that if you wanted a quick bite or snack, DeCafe and its versatile products could fulfill the wish.
Umami
Umami is an Asian-inspired hot bowl and sushi spot, and it used to be my every meal during my first year. This was before the 500-mile walk, to be fair. It’s a great option for those on the run that want a quick to-go meal, a customizable hot bowl, or their occasional dinner specials which often include chicken curry.
Rathskeller
The students call it the Rat. It has burgers, nachos, burritos, breakfast muffins and bagels, with my absolute favorite being their all-day breakfast Mondays.
Azariah’s
Also known as Azzy’s. It sells all types of coffee, tea, and beverages, and is conveniently located in the main library, Mudd, for the night owls that need to push through their assignments. I like their bagel and avocado toasts – a quick and easy snack when you’re running between classes and work.
We have two more dining halls, Heritage and Lord/Saunders, and another cafe-like space, Sky Bar, that sells sandwiches, wraps, snacks, and beverages. I don’t tend to go to these as much, although the few times I’ve gone to Heritage, their falafel has tasted great. I have also been to one or two Sunday dinners at Lord/Saunders – a special mac n cheese and chicken meal that repeats every week.
With so many spots, there are quite a lot of food options, and for the nutrition enthusiasts like me, there’s also the grand opportunity to get your can of chickpeas and Greek yogurt, along with the spinach and carrots, to come up with your own preferred meal.
